Page 202 of Forbidden Heroes

“You were a dick when you didn’t have to be with me.”

“With you, no. I knew it then but the rage inside me wouldn’t listen to reason with those kids in danger. I’ve never reacted like that before.”

“I’m sure you’ve never seen hurt kids like that before.”

Some kind of darkness pulls over his expression and for a second, before he pulls the mask back in place I see the underlying layer he’s always alluding to. The darker side of Miles Malone he wants no one to see. “What?” I ask bravely, knowing he’ll rebuff my attempt to move another puzzle piece of the man into place.

“I’ve seen more than I care to talk about, sweetheart. Let’s leave it at that.” Like I thought. An answer but at the same time, not an answer. That’s fine. He doesn’t owe me one. But I sure wish he would open up and let me help.

He pulls me into his arms and holds me against his chest like I am a lifeline. A large hand cradling the back of my head, another over my lower back. Or, it could all be my imagination getting the better of me. Either way, it feels good to just rest my head on his chest and listen to his heartbeat in my ear for several seconds. No words, but being.

“But you weren’t wrong,” I say, lifting my eyes to his. “ The director and the caregiver. They left teens alone which always spell trouble when they get bored.”

He raises and drops a shoulder. “I wasn't trying to be right.”

“My gran always said I was too nice, too forgiving,”

“Too cute ’n tasty too. Tell me about her.”

“She’s the reason I became a pastry chef. She taught me everything. My instructors at culinary school were always complimenting me because of what Gran taught me before I even knew I loved baking. Like she knew I would all along. Even through my professional kissing phase.”

His face falls into a frown. “Your what?”

I wave a hand. “Never mind. It never got off the ground. Now it’s your turn. How did you end up in Cherry Falls as fire chief?”

His hands rest on either side of my neck and he traces small circles right under my earlobes that has me half wanting to hear what he has to say and half wanting to rip his clothes off and go all Jane of the Jungle on him.

“It wasn’t my original plan. I liked cop uniforms better and I got to carry a gun. Did ten years. Did a little undercover work in narcotics and pulled out before a bust could turn deadly.”

I blink up at him, sort of stunned.

He cups the sides of my face in the palms of his hands. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you set fire to your bakery just so you could get me in your bed.”

Wow, he didn’t waste time. The man came here on a mission and no number of questions are going to deter him. I kind of dig it.

I smile. “You mean my kitchen?”

He grabs my hips and hauls me up to sit on a counter. “Because technically, we’ve yet to use a bed.” My nipples tighten in anticipation and I widen my legs, thankful for it being another skirt day.

Warm, callused fingers brush over my legs and when they dip into the band of my underwear I draw in a shuddering breath.

“Miles.”

I tighten my arms around his shoulders and his mouth is so close to mine I can already taste the black cherry mocha he drank on the way here.

“Why start now? I have an idea, though. How about we set a fire of our own?”

Miles

Iknew the second Bela wasn’t at my place, I had to find her. She’s nothing like any of the women I’ve ever allowed myself to get close to. Which are few to begin with.

“I like the sound of that, Chief,” she coos in this sexy husk that goes straight to my dick. I’m harder than I’ve ever been. I sink my fingers into the flesh of her ass and haul her over the ridge of my cock fighting to bust through my zipper.

Her nipples are hard points pushing through the thin material of her shirt and tease me to take them in my mouth. I knew it would come to this—me losing it over this woman. I fought it, and the only thing that got me was a ravenous appetite for the sweetest treat in this town. Now that I’ve had her on my tongue, wrapped around my body, I want more.

I undo my belt and enjoy the way her eyes catch every movement my hands make. Her heels press into my ass, pulling me back to her when I put too much space between us.

“Greedy little baker.”

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